Morning light spills across the front office at Parrish Community High School, but tucked quietly into one peaceful corner is a place where time seems to slow down. It’s called The Zen Pen, and for students or teachers who need a brief escape (just ten to fifteen minutes) from the weight of the day, it feels like a gentle exhale.
Created by school counselors Diana Ansbro, Kelly Bowling, Tracy Jordan, Monica Quinn, and Cathy Wincelowicz, the Zen Pen opened in late October and already feels like it has always belonged. The counselors greet everyone with the same warmth that fills the room itself. A special chair invites tired shoulders to relax, guided meditations play softly, and fidget toys and sensory tools offer comfort and grounding. This is mindfulness in action and self-care woven into the school day for those who need it.
“It’s not a replacement for talking to us,” the counselors explain. “But after ten minutes, students can focus and work through what’s going on.” Supported wholeheartedly by school administrators, the Zen Pen has become a small but powerful reminder that well-being matters here.
Just down the halls, magic of a different kind is unfolding.
Before our visit, we reached out to Kerrie Carrier, Parrish Community High’s choral director, with a simple question: would her chamber choir be willing to help create a special moment for an aspiring young singer from Daughtrey Elementary in Bradenton? Her answer came without hesitation: yes.
Soon, the halls filled with music. Beautiful voices echoed as the chorus sang a heartfelt song, each note wrapped in kindness and intention. As we recorded the performance, it was impossible not to feel the emotion lingering in the air. This wasn’t just a song. It was a gift from one group of students to another.
Our next stop brought us into a classroom where connection is part of the daily lesson plan. Here, we learned about Peer Partners, a program that pairs Parrish Community High general education students with their IND classmates every single day. Inside the room, learning looks a little different. Students take walks together, bake together, complete work packets, and most importantly, support one another.
“It’s a great bonding and teaching experience,” says Francesca Caban, the VE teacher guiding the program. And it shows.
We met Bianca G., a senior, cheerleader, and Peer Partner with a big heart and an even bigger vision for her future. Bianca is exploring careers as a behavior analyst, hoping to one day work with individuals with autism, developmental disabilities, or mental health needs. Her peer partner shares her love for cheerleading.
“I love when she comes to our football games and our practices,” Bianca said. “The fact that she comes up to me to say hi and give me a hug makes me so happy.”
That same spirit of belonging carries into the cafeteria, where another meaningful initiative is changing lunchtime one seat at a time. It’s called “No Bull Sits Alone.”
“The world is hard,” says history teacher Alison DePatie. “We don’t ever want a student to feel like they have to sit alone at lunch.”
Working alongside the Student Government Association, Mrs. DePatie (pictured with son, Cale) helps students who fill out a simple Google form asking for a peer to eat with. The reasons vary—being new to the school, navigating friendship conflicts, or simply wanting to meet someone new. But the response is always the same: SGA members show up. And often, so does the rest of the student body.
A Bradenton native who attended Bashaw Elementary, Braden River Middle, and Southeast High, Mrs. DePatie admits the kindness she’s witnessing has brought her to tears more than once. She hopes other schools will adopt similar programs, spreading the message that no one has to feel invisible.
From the creativity buzzing inside the Bullseye TV Production classroom to the Bull Pen wall, where colleagues proudly post “brags” celebrating one another, the message at Parrish Community High School is clear: support isn’t optional—it’s who they are.
As the day winds down, one thing is certain. Whether through music, mindfulness, partnership, or a shared lunch table, Parrish Community High School is a place where students and staff lift each other up. And as we head out, already looking forward to our next visit, it’s impossible not to feel inspired by a campus that proves kindness, connection, and care can shape every part of the school day.